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Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Reliance to launch VoLTE Supported Feature Phones soon

Reliance launched Jio India's cheapest 4G voice and data service now according to new report Reliance will be soon launching VoLTE-enabled affordable feature phones in India.

Reliance will unveil VoLTE-enabled feature phone line-up by the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2017. Until now, consumers in India were only able to use Reliance Jio services on 4G and VoLTE enabled Android and iOS smartphones, but a large chunk of Indian population is still using feature phones. Feature phones still dominate the Indian market with more than 50 percent share and remain the first preference of people in small towns and rural areas. Reliance wants to tap this wider audience base with its VoLTE enabled feature phones.

VoLTE is a software only feature, but it's also dependent on hardware to provide it access to run internet and make calls over voice over LTE. VoLTE-enabled feature phones will come with Spreadtrum 9820 processor, which will provide the VoLTE feature to Reliance feature phones. The chipsets from Spreadtrum will enable VoLTE capability on feature phones to access Relinace Jio services. This will give Reliance a chance to tap the user base who are still using 2G network to access internet. Spreadtrum Communications has previously designed chipsets for Samsung Z2 Tizen based smartphone, Samsung J2 handset, Galaxy tab 7.0, and some other smartphones

Reliance may extend its free 'welcome offer' beyond December to March end 2017 to meet 100 million subscriber target. Reliance Jio had earlier stated that its free 4G Jio Welcome Offer would be limited until December 3 to new subscribers. Existing customers can continue using the free Jio Welcome Offer until the 31st of the month.